37. A patient goes to the doctor with a cold and sore throat and asks for antibiotics. The doctor refuses to prescribe antibiotics to the patient because the illness is caused by which of the following pathogens?
Answer: C
The illness is caused by a virus.
Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections, which is why the doctor refuses to prescribe them to the patient suffering from a cold and sore throat.
A) Protist
Protists are a diverse group of microorganisms that can cause diseases, but they are not the cause of the common cold. The patient's symptoms are not due to an infection by a protist, making this option incorrect.
B) Fungus
Fungal infections can lead to various health issues, but they do not cause colds or sore throats. Since the patient's condition is not related to a fungal pathogen, this option is also incorrect.
C) Virus
Viruses are responsible for the common cold, and since antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections, this option is correct. The patient's request for antibiotics is inappropriate in this case, as the underlying cause is viral.
D) Bacteria
Bacterial infections may require antibiotic treatment, but they are not the cause of the common cold or sore throat in this scenario. Thus, this option is incorrect as the patient's condition is viral, not bacterial.
Conclusion
The correct answer is C) Virus, as the common cold is caused by viral pathogens, which antibiotics do not treat. Options A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not pertain to the etiology of the patient's symptoms, confirming that only the viral cause justifies the doctor's refusal to prescribe antibiotics.